The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-10-26
What a Boy in Blue had to lug
through the War.

First, his weapons. Those were IN
iispcnsslbls--the musket in perfect order
within and without the FORTY ronnds Il
ammunition in the cartridge-box. sup
pieInented, If there vas probability Of
soon meeting the enemy, by twenty or
forty additional rounds in the knapsack.
Second. the rations and nntensils- While
in camp he had enjoved few Injuries"
like corned beef, beans. split peas. des-
sicated vegetables. potatoes, vinegar,
molasses, eondies-some of them very.
rarely, others quite as often sstheir quail
ity made them welcome II be had re-
eeived his due share ,and who ever
knew company COOK" that had the
credit of giving the 'hoys" what they
were entitled TO receive p Of these in adj
dition TO the standing marching rations,
he had lived quite satisfactorily. - far as
quantity was concerned. But the three.
or ive, or eight days raiions, which be
was supposed to take upon the march
were shorn of all luxuries, and when the
bsversaek was filed, il contained as
rule, very little save the regulation ten
"hard-tack, a piece of generally excel
lent salt pork supposed 70 weigh about
twelve ounces, and spoonful each Of
dry coffee and sugar for each days IA
ton. The sugar and coffee were gener-
ally mixed, placed in small bag made
for the purpose and stored in the most
secure corner of the hayersack Here
was the soldiers greatest add surest re
lance The solid food might fail it
often did but by economy he could al
WAYS manage 20 have material for a cup
of coffee, and if the march had been
hard and the rations scant, the hot
beverage with its gentle stimulations was
50 much more grateful. Hung over the
haverslck, or within il if there is room
were the two indispensable culinary arti-
cles-the tin cup with the capacity of
about a quart and well blackened tin
plate A knife, fork and a SPOON
frequently the three combined into a
single pocket article--eompleted the
outfit in this direction. The eanteen
which hung beside the haversaek was
not likely 10 be filed at the start Two
or three pints Of water would make
notable addition to the load i would
hardly be needed at the outset and after
making a few miles there would un-
doubtedly be chance 70 run out of the
ranks, dip a cup Of water from some
spring or stream and fill the canteen
while the march went on.
Last of all there was the knapsack,
and its contents varied most of all
What the soldiers had of extra clothing
was there-it might be q complete outfit,
but the chance was that it comprised at
the best no more than an extra shirt,
pair or two of stockings possioly one Of
drawers though there might be an
extra coat-perchance address coat, which
was deemed too valuable 10 be thrown
or given away. There were almost in
variably writing materials, for every op-
portunity was taken advantage Of 10 keep
the communication with ~home' con
stant. and in the pauses of battle or
''at the roar many hasty line was
written TO inform the loved ones that the
writer had thus far escaped the casuali-
ties Of war, or to give intelligence Of those
who had not been 80 fortunate careful
ly cherished nementoes filed some of
the corners. a Testament or a pack Of
cards, and not unfrequently both in close
companionship. In addition to these
articles, there still remained an overcoat
70 be stored away within the knapsack,
the rubber blanket and the WOODEN one
If the soldier was fortunate 10 have
both-to be rolled and strapped above it,
and section of shelter TO be disposed Of
somewhere. During the summer marches
the overeoat was generally thrown away
and replaced by a new one when the
weather called for it, and it was wonder
ful how the outfit thus specified would
dwindle if the campaign proved espe-
eially trying. Not infrequently the
knapsack itself with most Of its contents.
would be left on the way. the blankets
being formed into roll and passed over
the shoulder, as was the almost univer-
sal custom among the confederates